RAPID CITY – Aberdeen Roncalli put all seven players on the podium en route to a third place finish at the Class A boys’ tennis state tournament, which wrapped up Tuesday afternoon.

The Cavaliers finished with four third-place finishes – two singles and two doubles teams – two fourths and a pair of fifths in singles play and a sixth place showing at flight three doubles.

“I am super proud of my boys and their efforts this week,” said Roncalli coach Jason Haskell. “I knew when we started this season we could be embarking on something special. I didn’t know exactly what that looked like, I just knew that the boys had an opportunity.”

The Cavaliers took advantage of their opportunities and played their way to one of the highest team finishes in school history.

“I felt like fourth or fifth place would need great results, but if we had a tremendous tournament we could take third,” Haskell said. “The boys dug deep and found a way to make that 3rd place team finish happen.”

Palmer Johnson and Landon Zikmund each took third place at flights two and four singles, respectively.

Gannon May was fourth at flight three, as was Ezra Feickert at flight six. Cason Hellwig was fifth at flight one, and Jayden Reecy was fifth at flight five.

Haskell noted there was savvy, gutsy tennis from all of his players throughout the tournament.

“Palmer Johnson used strategy and consistency to take third at flight two singles,” Haskell said, adding that Johnson and doubles partner May were selected to the all-tournament team in doubles play after teaming up for a third place finish there. “May’s fourth place singles was earned through aggressive offensive play. Zikmund used his serve and net play to outdo his sixth place seed and finish third.”

Haskell also noted that Hellwig’s fifth place effort was earned largely on courage.

“(Cason) played some solid, very strategic tennis against the top class A players in the state after spending two weeks in a cast,” Haskell said.

After finishing fifth in singles, Reecy, a senior, teamed up with freshman Will Haskell for a sixth place effort in flight three doubles.

“Reecy would tee up (Will) for aggressive poaching at the net,” Coach Haskell said.

Communication played a key role in Roncalli’s other third place doubles effort.

“Zikmund and Hellwig demonstrated solid teamwork and communication to use Hellwig’s strength in the backcourt and Zikmund’s presence at the net to take third,” Haskell said.

Feickert’s finish in singles play was a crafty piece of tennis, as Haskell said the sophomore “relied on his various spins and determination” to claim his fourth place spot.

As a team, the Cavaliers finished with 320 points. Sioux Falls Christian earned the team title behind former Central player Mitchell Hofer.

“This weekend we will celebrate the high school graduation for four of these athletes, all of whom are academic all-state award winners, “Haskell said. “ It was a privilege and an honor to coach them this year. If these seven student athletes approach life with the grit and character they have used this season, they have a lot to look forward to in life.”

Team Points: Sioux Falls Christian 540.5, Rapid City Christian 528, Aberdeen Roncalli 320, Huron 235, Lennox 231, Madison 192.5, Pierre 186, St. Thomas More 178.5, Milbank 140, Vermillion 103, Spearfish 32.

SINGLES

First Flight

CASON HELLWIG: def. Michael Levine, St. Thomas More, 10-3; def. Devin Dodson, Pierre, 10-7. FIFTH PLACE

Second Flight

PALMER JOHNSON: def. Gunnar Geiken, Lennox, 10-3. THIRD PLACE

Third Flight

GANNON MAY: lost to Jacob Leiferman, Pierre, 10-5. FOURTH PLACE.

Fourth Flight

LANDON ZIKMUND: def. Weston Northrup, Pierre, 10-8. THIRD PLACE.

Fifth Flight

JAYDEN REECY: def. Daniel Shelstad, Milbank, 10-1; def. Grant Freeling, Vermillion, 10-1. FIFTH PLACE.

Sixth Flight

EZRA FEICKERT: lost to Oliver Huxford, St. Thomas More, 10-2. FOURTH PLACE

DOUBLES

First Flight

PALMER JOHNSON-GANNON MAY: def. Plank-Sherard, Lennox, 10-5. THIRD PLACE.

Second Flight

CASON HELLWIG-LANDON ZIKMUND: def. Northrup-Dodson, Pierre, 10-7. THIRD PLACE.

Third Flight

JAYDEN REECY-WILL HASKELL: def. Hovden-Wittmuss, Vermillion, 10-6; lost to E. Huxford-O. Huxford, St. Thomas More, 10-1. SIXTH PLACE.

Milbank Results

SINGLES

First Flight

JOE SCHULTE: loss to Devin Dodson, Pierre, 10-3.

Second Flight

CHARLES WHITESITT: def. Lucas Green, Vermillion, 10-3. NINTH PLACE.

Third Flight

GREGORY GRABOW: lost to Alex Heibult, Milbank, 10-4.

Fourth Flight

WILL MUELLENBACH: lost to Pierce Temme, Lennox, 10-3.

Fifth Flight

DANIEL SHELSTAD: lost to Jayden Reecy, Aberdeen Roncalli, 10-1.

Sixth Flight

ALEX BAUGH: lost to Maner Htoo, Huron, 10-1.

Doubles

First Flight

JOE SCHULTE-GREGORY GRABOW: lost to Christ Moo-Htoo, Huron, 10-8.

Second Flight

WILL MUELLENBACH-CHARLES WHITESITT: lost to Doh Soe-Wah, Huron, 10-5.

Third Flight

DANIEL SHELSTAD-ALEX BAUGH: lost to Lueking-Blanchette, Pierre, 10-8.